Umbrella-notch.



No. 667719. Patented Feb. I2, I91".

w. E. MUULTON.

UMBRELLA NOTCH. (Applies Hon filedJuly 17, 1899.) (No Model.

E Norms PETERS c0. PNOTOLITNOH wsmusmu u c UNITED STATES PATENT WVALTER E. MOULTON, OF SHELBY, )HIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BALL-BEARING UMBRELLA COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

UMBRELLA-NOTCH.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,719, dated February 12, 1901.

Application filed July 17, 1899. Serial No. 724,134. \No motleLl To all whom it may concern.- In my previous patent, No. 599,623, dated Be it known that I, WALTER E. MOULTON, February 22, 1898, I have shown a construc a citizen of the United States, residing at tion wherein the socket for the spherical end Shelby, in the county of Richland and State of the stretcher is madeintegral with the rib. of Ohio, have invented certain new and use In the present device, however, while emfnl Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the ploying a rounded socket or seat forthe outer following is a specification. spherical end of the stretcher I make it in a My present invention relates to umbrellas, somewhat different manner. The stretcher the construction and advantages of which G is, as will be noted,provided with a spher- 6o 10 will be hereinafterset forth, reference being ical end 11 and a flattened portion I adjacent had to the annexed drawings, whereinthereto. The rounded seat or socket J for Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a the spherical end is struck up or formed of a portion of an umbrella disclosing my inven- U-shaped piece of metal K, which is of such tion; Fig. 2, a perspective view of a portion dimension as to fit within the rib. Aftersaid i5 of one of the ribs and stretchers and of the member K is in place the rib and bearing connecting device for the two; Fig. 3, a top member are indented, as is clearly indicated plan view of the top notch; Fig. 4, a top plan in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus it will be seen that View of the main body of the runner; Fig. 5, said bearing member is held positively in the a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. 6, a rib and cannot move longitudinally thereof 20 vertical sectional view taken on the line 1 l or be thrown out of its position within the of Fig. 4; Fig.7, a similar view taken on the rib without danger of breaking the parts.

line 2 2 of Fig. 4c, and Fig. 8 a cross-sectional The flattened portion I of the stretcher perview on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. mits the stretcher to be folded down into the The object of my invention is to provide rib when the umbrella is closed, and there is 25 an improved runner, as will be hereinafter no projection of the parts beyond the inner set forth. face of the ribs. The bearing memberKalso Referring to the drawings, A indicates the serves to strengthen the rib at the bearingstick of the umbrella or parasol, which may point of the stretcher, while not increasing be of any approved form. It has secured to the dimensions or thickness of the rib at this 30 it near its upper end a top notch of the form point. The ball-and-socket joint between shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Said notch comthe rib and stretcher affordsaconnection beprises a tube or sleeve B, having at its lower tween the two parts which is not liable to beend an oinwardly-extendingcollar O,in which come broken and which prevents all longiis formed a series of sockets D, into which tudinal movement of the stretcher relatively 35 open radial slots E. In assembling the nmto the rib.

brella the spherical ends of the ribs are The formation of the runner is shown in passed down into the sockets, the body por Figs. 1 and 4: to 8, inclusive. It comprises a tion of the ribs being flattened, so as to pass tube or sleeve M, provided at its upper end through the slots, as is clearly shown in Fig.1. with an outwardly-extending flange or collar 40 After the ribs are all in place ascrew-threaded N, in which is formed a series of radial slots washer or nut F is passed down over the up- 0 and a series of sockets or bearing-surfaces per open end of the slots and sockets and P, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The unserves to hold the ribs in place against endder face of the collar or sleeve is provided .wise movement,while permittingafree swingwith a groove or channel Q, as indicated in 4.5 ing motion thereof when the umbrella is Figs. 6 and 7. The inner endsof the stretchopened. By reason, however, of the body ers G are formed with spherical heads simiportion of the rib adjacent to its spherical lar to those upon the outer ends, and said end being flattened there is no side or lateral heads are seated in the sockets P, while the play of the rib. The connection between the flattened portions of the stretchers adjacent [00 5o rib and the outer end of the stretcher is best thereto pass out through the slots 0. A se- Shown in Figs. 1 and 2. ries of balls R is supported directly beneath the spherical heads in the channel or groove Q by a cup or disk S, which likewise has a channel or groove T form ed therein. To hold thecup or disk S in place, Iemploy a nut U, which is screwed up against the under face of said disk, and a locking-nut V. The balls R are held directly up against the spherical heads of the stretchers and form, in connection with the sockets P, a superior bearing for said heads.

By theuse ofthe nutsUandVthe cup ordisk S and the balls R supported thereby may be adjusted to a nicety, so that the spherical ends of the stretchers will be held in their proper position.

No claim is made herein to the ball-andsocket connection between the rib and stretcher, as that forms the subject-matter of a divisional application filed by me, in pur suance of the requirement made by the Oflice, on the 25th day of October, 1899, Serial No. 73%,743.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an umbrella, the combination of a series of ribs; a series of stretchers connected thereto and provided with spherical heads upon their inner ends; a tube or sleeve having a collar extending outward therefrom and provided with radial slots; sockets or bearing-surfaces formed in the body adjacent to said slots; a groove or channel Q around the base of said collar; a cup or disk provided with a groove or channel in its upper face; a series of balls seated in said groove in a plane beneath and bearing against the spherical heads of the stretchers; and means for holding said cup or disk in place beneath the collar, whereby the balls are caused to bear against the spherical heads of the stretchers, substantially as described.

2. In an umbrella, the combination ofa series of ribs; a series of stretchers connected thereto and provided with spherical heads upon their inner ends; a runner provided With a series of spherical bearing-surfaces adapted to receive and hold said spherical heads;

and a series of balls held beneath said heads in a plane below the bearing-surfaces, said balls serving to hold the heads in the bearing-surfaces, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In an umbrella, the combination of aseries of ribs; a series of stretchers connected thereto and provided with spherical heads upon their inner ends a runner provided with a sleeve having a series of radial slots and spherical seats, said seats being adapted to receive and hold the heads formed upon the stretchers; a cup or disk provided with a channel in its upper face; a series of balls mounted in said channel immediately below the spherical heads of the stretchers; and means for maintaining said cup or disk in position.

at. In an umbrella, the combination ofa se ries of ribs; :1. series of stretchers connected thereto and provided with spherical heads upon theirinnerends; a runner provided with a sleeve at its upper end, said sleeve being provided with a series of radial slots 0 and sockets P adjacent thereto; agroove or channel Q formed in the under face of said sleeve; a cup or disk S provided with a groove or channel T; a series of balls R seated within said groove and the groove orchannel Q; and locking-nuts for holding said cup or disk in position.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER E. MOULION.

Witnesses:

T. J. GREEN, W. W. SKILEs. 

